Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

AHCPCM502A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Collect and classify plants

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency AHCPCM502A - Collect and classify plants
Description This unit covers the process of collecting and identifying plants using taxonomic keys and the preserving of plant specimens and defines the standard required to: collect plant specimens; note the location, characteristics and occurrence of specimens at the point of collection; clean, preserve, mount and label plant specimens; use a plant key to identify plants against the botanical description of the species; label preserved specimens.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit applies to the collection, classification and preservation of plants as a herbarium collection and requires the ability to work independently to prepare for plant collecting, collect plant specimens, preserve specimens and identify plant specimens.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Prepare for plant collecting
  • Purpose and objectives for collecting range of plants is confirmed.
  • Area, location and/or habitat for collecting are defined.
  • Resources to assist in plant location and identification are determined and prepared.
  • Equipment required for collecting and preserving specimens is determined and prepared.
  • Licences and/or permission to collect specimens are sought from landowner or managing agency.
  • Range of likely operating conditions, hazards and difficult/sensitive environments are assessed for impact on collecting and preserving specimens.
  • Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards associated with plant collecting are identified.
       
Element: Collect plant specimens
  • Collecting ethics are observed when selecting specimens for picking.
  • Relevant information about the specimen, its characteristics and occurrence is entered into a field note book and location coordinates are noted.
  • Specimen collected provides adequate material for identification and preserving.
  • Specimens are correctly tagged and stored for later identification.
  • Appropriate OHS legislative requirements and work practices are followed.
       
Element: Preserve specimens
  • Preservation of specimen is undertaken while still fresh.
  • Specimen is cleaned and prepared for preserving according to enterprise guidelines.
  • Preserving of specimen carried out using either pressing or drying techniques.
  • Dried specimen is mounted and labelled with accurate information from notebook.
       
Element: Identify plant specimen
  • Resources are identified and accessed to assist in identification.
  • The basic characteristics of a plant are identified and documented.
  • Relevant plant key is used to identify plant.
  • Plant identity is confirmed against botanical description of species.
  • Plant identity is documented on label according to enterprise guidelines.
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

collect plant specimens

note the location, characteristics and occurrence of specimens at the point of collection

clean, preserve, mount and label plant specimens

use a plant key to identify plants against the botanical description of the species

label preserved specimens.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

prepare for plant collecting

collect plant specimens

preserve specimens

identify plant specimens

follow safe work practices

use literacy skills to fulfil job roles as required by the organisation. The level of skill may range from reading and understanding documentation to completion of written reports

use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views

use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record complex workplace measures

use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge

herbarium collection techniques and ethics

plant anatomy, physiology, morphology, taxonomy and nomenclature

physical and biological habitat types (including vegetation associations and communities where appropriate)

OHS legislative requirements and Codes of Practice

hazard identification and risk assessment and control.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Information to be recorded for each specimen may include:

information that identifies the particular specimen

information that describes the plant

information that outlines the location of the plant specimen

information that describes the ecological characteristics of the area.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Purpose and objectives for collecting range of plants is confirmed. 
Area, location and/or habitat for collecting are defined. 
Resources to assist in plant location and identification are determined and prepared. 
Equipment required for collecting and preserving specimens is determined and prepared. 
Licences and/or permission to collect specimens are sought from landowner or managing agency. 
Range of likely operating conditions, hazards and difficult/sensitive environments are assessed for impact on collecting and preserving specimens. 
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards associated with plant collecting are identified. 
Collecting ethics are observed when selecting specimens for picking. 
Relevant information about the specimen, its characteristics and occurrence is entered into a field note book and location coordinates are noted. 
Specimen collected provides adequate material for identification and preserving. 
Specimens are correctly tagged and stored for later identification. 
Appropriate OHS legislative requirements and work practices are followed. 
Preservation of specimen is undertaken while still fresh. 
Specimen is cleaned and prepared for preserving according to enterprise guidelines. 
Preserving of specimen carried out using either pressing or drying techniques. 
Dried specimen is mounted and labelled with accurate information from notebook. 
Resources are identified and accessed to assist in identification. 
The basic characteristics of a plant are identified and documented. 
Relevant plant key is used to identify plant. 
Plant identity is confirmed against botanical description of species. 
Plant identity is documented on label according to enterprise guidelines. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCPCM502A - Collect and classify plants
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

AHCPCM502A - Collect and classify plants

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: